Bidding adieu to 2018 will be that much more festive if you do it in good company — with perhaps hundreds or thousands of your closest friends.

Across the land, many cities and towns, large and small, will say goodbye to 2018 and welcome in 2019 with open-air concerts and street parties.

New Year’s Eve bashes, family-focused public celebrations, a cocktail cruise, dinners and a Brazilian carnival on Dec. 31 are among the events that will make Ontario sparkle.

One of the most happening places is the entire tourism district of Niagara Falls, billed as “Canada’s largest New Year’s Eve bash.”

Crowds of up to 50,000 people fill Queen Victoria Park overlooking the illuminated Horseshoe and American falls. The free outdoor party kicks off at 8 p.m.

It’s also one of the country’s longest-running celebrations, featuring entertainment and fireworks shows launched from the Niagara Gorge and the Skylon Tower.

There are two countdowns with fireworks: one for youngsters at 9 p.m. and the other for the party hearty at the stroke of midnight.

This year’s concert features an all-star Canadian lineup that opens at 8 p.m. with the Niagara Falls-based band Avenue Inn, winner of Band of the Year at the Niagara Music Awards. The Sheepdogs, a Saskatoon based-band, takes the stage at 9 p.m. while Walk Off the Earth will perform its multi-platinum tunes starting at 10 p.m. Ringing in the New Year is legend Burton Cummings, one of Canada’s most-celebrated performers and former Guess Who frontman.

The event will have variety of food and beverage options, as well as an outdoor licensed area. Numerous restaurants, hotels and two casinos are nearby.

Ottawa’s First Night fireworks are the stuff of legend, but what about the metaphorical chill of a night of (indoor) yoga, meditation and “intention-setting” workshops as well as swag bags and healthy drinks? todocanada.ca/new-years-eve-ottawa

A New Year’s Eve Brazilian carnival happens at The Venue in Peterborough to samba, eat and toast your way into 2019. thekawarthas.ca/events

Six historical churches in downtown Brockville, all within easy walking distance of one another, are the venues for free concerts, featuring choirs, bells, concert bands and local musicians. brockvilletourism.com

Fort William Historical Park in Thunder Bay is throwing its annual Family Frolic celebrations, culminating with a big fireworks show. Fwhp.ca/festivals-events

If the revelries of the night before don’t keep you down, consider visiting an Ontario Provincial Park, for events such as the First Day Hike at Bronte Creek, Kakabeka Falls, the Pinery and MacGregor Point. ontarioparks.com/events

For more information on events, check out the Ontario Tourism website: ontariotravel.net

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